Editorial: Let's take rhetoric down a notch

A chill went through Michigan's business leadership community last week.

The situation resulted from a fight over a ballot proposal its supporters say would stem gerrymandering in Michigan's legislative districts.

The proposal, pushed by a group called Voters Not Politicians, is being challenged before the state Supreme Court by a group called Citizens Protecting Michigan's Constitution, which is largely funded by the Michigan Chamber of Commerce. The chamber argues that the change would require a constitutional convention.

Last week, an out-of-state advocacy group called Represent.Us took the fight in a new and dismaying direction: hardball advertising in the Detroit Free Press targeting the chamber's board members, including board Chair Mark Davidoff, managing partner for Michigan at the accounting/consulting firm Deloitte.

The ads riled up people on social media, resulting in death threats on Facebook for Davidoff. A representative example: "Can we start killing these people yet, or just post thier shame?" (Yes, that's how it was spelled.) Others advocated for guillotines. Still others alluded to threats to Davidoff's family, and posted his office phone number.

Yes, there's free speech, but if we want our state to be a better place, this kind of rhetoric and harassment has to end.

People can disagree on this ballot proposal, but the chamber is allowed to oppose it in the courts. The money it has put into the group that filed the lawsuit is disclosed.

Executives such as Davidoff, who has a record of service to metro Detroit and Michigan that is hard to match, serve on the boards of business organizations like the chamber and charities in order to help the community. They do so as volunteers. They're not paid for the time they devote to making Michigan a better place.

We need the service of our best and brightest business leaders, but if the result is going to be death threats and extending the battle to their own companies, who will be willing to serve? Is it worth dealing with threats to their families and companies?

Many will decide it isn't. And that will be Michigan's loss.

There is heavy debate now about civility and its place in a politically divided society. There's room for debate about how far protest can go. But the over-the-top, violent rhetoric that this protest brought to the fore is only going to make our problems worse.